Bills that could be the next step for interstates through Eastern North Carolina await action now in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., filed a bill on July 31 that would designate U.S. 17 — which runs from the South Carolina border, through Wilmington, Jacksonville, New Bern and Elizabeth City to Norfolk, Va. — and U.S. 64, which runs from Raleigh to the coast, as future interstate routes.

The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.

“Designating these highways as a future interstate is another step in improving North Carolina’s transportation network,” Hagan said in a statement Thursday. “By continuing to invest in our existing infrastructure, we can put more North Carolinians to work, better link our state’s capital and the busy port of Hampton Roads to Eastern North Carolina, and ensure federal highway dollars are spent wisely.”

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., introduced a similar bill June 10, which is cosponsored by fellow North Carolinian U.S. Reps. Howard Coble, Renee Ellmers, Walter B. Jones, Patrick McHenry, Mike McIntyre, Mark Meadows, Robert Pittenger and David Price.

Butterfield’s bill, H. 4829, was sent to the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on June 11. Hagan’s legislation, S. 2720, arrived at the Committee on Environment and Public Works the same day it was introduced.

Efforts continue among county and city elected officials along the U.S. 70 corridor to have that federal highway included in plans to upgrade highways to interstates, linking the ports at Morehead City and Norfolk to transportation hubs like the Global TransPark.

“Our vision to advance transportation in the region will reduce traffic congestion, improve access, and pave the way for job creation and further economic development in North Carolina and Virginia,” Butterfield said in a statement after filing the bill.

Gov. Pat McCrory and state Transportation Secretary Tony Tata also came out in favor of the proposal in June.

“Not only is this designation part of our future vision for transportation in our state, it is also key to attracting companies to North Carolina and expanding those that are already here,” McCrory said.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.